Yesterday's Look Tomorrow

I wrote about design trends in one of my last hubs, and this time I want to focus on a specific design style: Mid-Century Modern.

This super-retro style is making a comeback with trendy Gen-Xers, and with some older folks who just never bothered to change their ’60s style.

To get an idea of what M² design looks like, pick up any Sunset How-To book circa 1967. All that curvy, groovy, colorful stuff is a perfect example of MidMod.

Fans of the show “Mad Men” will recognize the MidMod aesthetic in Don Draper’s office. It also graced many of the interiors on the original "Star Trek" and "The Brady Bunch" series.

M² is heavily influenced by Scandinavian design, apparent in the softened angles and blending of materials. Bent wood is popular, as are pendant light fixtures. Look for shag carpets, exposed beams, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

If you want the Mid-century Modern look, you’ll either have to find a vintage egg chair and one of those original Naugahyde sofas still wrapped in plastic, or you’re going to have to look for some modern furniture with a retro look.

Wholesale Interiors 3-piece leather furniture set in black fits the bill smartly. The metal legs and squared-off lines make this set at home in a variety of settings, including the tricky M².

The “Sacramento” bonded leather sofa by Global Furniture USA is a softer piece, but it still works well with the Modern interior, with its two-tone effect and swanky bachelor-pad styling.

Or, you can go in a completely different direction with the “Flair” from WI. This is an updated look, but one that can still work in a MidMod room.

The Tosh Furniture leather sectional with built-in end tables has a perfect M² look, as does the ultra modern red leather sectional sofa.

Sectionals of most kinds are great for Mid-century Modern decor. So long as they aren’t too puffy or overstuffed, they look like they belong in the pared-down interior.

Great M² chair choices include the WI swivel-action light brown leather Club chair (A-92-P8006). The unique styling of this chair puts it right at home with your amorphous coffee table and potted fig.

The Diamond Sofa “Zoey” bonded leather accent chair finishes off any Modern interior with classical touches like button tufting combined with modern accents like wooden legs.

For a lower-key but still Mod look, go for Southern Enterprises, Inc. “Worthington” faux leather Club chair. This piece won’t scream yesteryear, but it will hold its own in your ensemble.

Unlike other design trends that you can mix and match, you really have to have a complete Mid-century Modern look, or else your room is just going to look like a conglomeration of cheap thrift store finds with no unifying theme.

Invest in a good leather furniture—a well-made sofa or chair—to really anchor your look. Add in a plush shag rug and a Sputnik-style chandelier, along with a few choice pieces of abstract art, and you’ve got a brand new look for a bygone era.